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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Emergency services, March 13 Blooms coming too early for Rogue Valley's bees App Finder: Best outdoors apps Medford cites 'conflict of interest' in study on Coquilles' proposed casino Pot issues leave Medford council dazed Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services, March 13 Medford Little Feet Children's Shoes burglarized in downtown Emergency services: March 12 Drug search warrant leads to two Medford arrests Rogue River man convicted of kidnapping, assault Politics and Elections Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US Special election: Jackson County voters OK marijuana tax Ex-Merkley aide chosen as Oregon secretary of state Ashland: Budget increase, swimming pool funding discussion on council agenda Judge upholds Phoenix's moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries Education Medford School District calls foul on teachers union Supporters rally to back beleaguered principal St. Mary's reaches out to China Work your body to save your braaaaains Inert grenade spurred White Mountain Middle School evacuation Environment Blooms coming too early for Rogue Valley's bees Low snow closes Mt. Ashland bunny hill chairlift DEQ issues fines over illegal White City dumping site Catastrophic wildfires expected in Southern Oregon this summer The new normal under climate change? State News Lebanon High School sharpshooters aim for national titles Man languishes in Oregon jail, hasn't commit a crime Judge sides with Oregon, sends Oracle case to state court Strippers make case to Oregon legislators for work improvements Brown ends contract with Kitzhaber adviser-business owner Nation - World Obituaries Shiela Marie Death Notices Death Notices Norma Catherine Morgan Marlene Milliron (Smock) Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Bank of America is predicting a massive Tesla collapse Mars One attracts science fiction geeks and people who hate society Sports Latest Stories La Salle ends Crater's championship hopes North Medford topples Klamath Falls for title Duke cruises past N.C. State, 77-53 Irving erupts for 57 in Cavs' triumph Ducks get defensive, roll into semifinals Varsity 541 College Sports Duke cruises past N.C. State, 77-53 Ducks get defensive, roll into semifinals West's last-second score gives SOU upset Beavers fall to Buffaloes at Pac-12 tourney Two Beavers seeded for NCAA Championships Pro Sports Irving erupts for 57 in Cavs' triumph Ferrell bats, fields, coaches in Arizona Allred tied for second with opening 65 Mariota draws scrutiny at Ducks' pro day Eagles land All-Pro running back Murray Community Sports Business Latest Stories East McAndrews Road sees a resurgence in commercial projects Alaska, United Express boost Medford airport to record February Jackson County jobless rate falls to 7.7 percent Blog: Manufacturing leads Oregon's export expansion Disruptive forces: Coming to a business near you Real Estate News East McAndrews Road sees a resurgence in commercial projects Business briefs: March 7 New construction prices jump 18.2 percent in Jackson County People In Business People in Business: Feb. 28 People in Business Transportation Alaska, United Express boost Medford airport to record February CEO Rieder leaving Erickson March 31 Lodging gains bode well for travel industries Agriculture Harry & David announces new president Warm winter has fruit growers poised for action Briefcase: Business briefs for Feb. 21 Opinion Latest Our View: Daylight saving bill another waste of time Letters to the Editor, March 13 Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US Our View: Medford native Dave Frohnmayer leaves legacy of distinguished service Letters to the Editor, March 12 Editorials Our View: Daylight saving bill another waste of time Our View: Medford native Dave Frohnmayer leaves legacy of distinguished service Our View: Medford council shouldn't over-regulate backyard pot gardens Our View: Atkins a safe choice for secretary of state Our View: Driving voter turnout is no sure thing for Oregon Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, March 13 Letters to the Editor, March 12 Letters to the Editor, March 11 Letters to the Editor, March 10 Letters to the Editor, March 9 Columns Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US George Will: The Export-Import Bank's tenacious grip Dana Milbank: Republicans set up a breakaway nation Kathleen Parker: Adolescent senators dunking the president Kent Bush: Things will never change unless we change them Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: There is nothing uniform about the Uniform Crime Report GUEST OPINION: Police, community should work to prevent profiling Guest Opinion: Don't overregulate Oregon's hemp industry Guest Opinion: Predatory banking practices bilk citizens Guest Opinion: Is less education the answer? Lifestyle Latest stories Religion briefs: Friday, March 13 Fishing Report: Friday, March 13 Looking Up: Amazing age of discovery Hunting's Second Season Drawing for youth turkey hunts March 31 Food Community blog: Fewer and fewer of us eschew brilliant beets Season Stepp: Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with authentic Irish recipes Page H. Onorato: The 10 commandments for the Southern cook Page H. Onorato: Try out this hot stuff in your kitchen on a cold night Serra storms Seattle Home and Garden Using universal design Dear Monty: Successful rezoning property requires a plan Garden Cameos: Time to give your garden a new look Carol Link: Eradicate weeds completely, use edgers to help keep thrift on slope Paul Rogers: Daylight Saving, full moon hopeful signs for spring Health Health Watch: Living smart to protect your heart Community blog: Can Twentysomething Depression Be�Healed? Dr. Murray Feingold: What’s your excuse for being late? Community blog: The Future is Now Dr. Murray Feingold: Cognitive-behavioral therapy shown to help hoarders Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs: Friday, March 13 More religion events in the Rogue Valley Religion Briefs Religion briefs, Feb. 27 Religion briefs: Friday, Feb. 20 Milestones and Achievements Exercise helps special-needs kids adjust to airport procedures Engagement: Workman-Wright Anniversary: Hofer Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Agave offers gourmet tacos, tamales, ensaladas and more Kites & Crows, Ryan Marchand and Mercy Duo face-off this weekend at Rising Stars music competition in Jacksonville Randall Theatre presents playwright Bernard Slade's comedy Nitty Gritty Dirt Band co-founder John McEuen performs at the Unitarian Fellowship in Ashland Warren G. performs at the Historic Ashland Armory Theater Randall Theatre presents playwright Bernard Slade's comedy Thanks for the Memories presents 'Anastasia' TMTO's 'Bye Bye Birdie' takes flight Brava! Opera presents classic Mozart and Poulenc Review: 'Fingersmith' a twisting thriller with love Music Kites & Crows, Ryan Marchand and Mercy Duo face-off this weekend at Rising Stars music competition in Jacksonville Nitty Gritty Dirt Band co-founder John McEuen performs at the Unitarian Fellowship in Ashland The Farr Side: Madonna — ever the trendsetter Warren G. performs at the Historic Ashland Armory Zepdrix! 'Shook, Rattled and Rolled' Community Events Ashland Independent Film Festival announces this year's lineup OSF Hip-Hop Poetry Open Mic Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jesse Lawson and Joe Moxley host 'Barkeeper' Third Fridays showcases local artists Dining Agave offers gourmet tacos, tamales, ensaladas and more Serra storms Seattle Sakura Japanese Sushi Restaurant opens in new location Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, March 1 Great Outdoor Grill offers healthful options Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines/Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Our View: Daylight saving bill another waste of time ... Blooms coming too early for Rogue Valley's bees ... Drawing for youth turkey hunts March 31 ... Our View: Daylight saving bill another waste of time ... Blooms coming too early for Rogue Valley's bees ... Drawing for youth turkey hunts March 31 ... Raccoons flourish in town The critters were the top-ranking nuisance animal again this year The critters were the top-ranking nuisance animal again this year. Comment By Mark Freeman MailTribune.com By Mark Freeman Posted Jan. 18, 2008 at 12:01 AM Updated Jan 18, 2008 at 12:16 AM By Mark Freeman Posted Jan. 18, 2008 at 12:01 AM Updated Jan 18, 2008 at 12:16 AM WHAT: A medium-sized nocturnal omnivore native ... --> SIZE: Adults weigh six to 35 pounds and are 24 to 36 inches long, not including tails, which can grow up to 10 inches. Can weigh up to 60 pounds. DESCRIPTION: Known best for their mask-like blac... » Read more X WHAT: A medium-sized nocturnal omnivore native to most of North America, including Oregon. SIZE: Adults weigh six to 35 pounds and are 24 to 36 inches long, not including tails, which can grow up to 10 inches. Can weigh up to 60 pounds. DESCRIPTION: Known best for their mask-like black fur around the eyes and for their ringed tails. Coat is a mix of gray, black and brown fur. DIET: Mostly berries, insects, fruit, fish and small animals. In urban areas, everything from garbage to pet food. BREEDING: They mate between January and March, with litters of one to eight born in April or May after a 63-day gestation. Their birth weight is 2 ounces. » Social News Raccoons have become a pain in the deck to Judy Lentz, who is unfortunate enough to have her patio chosen as one of east Medford's more disgusting venues. Her wooden deck has become a "latrine site," the No. 1 spot where the neighborhood raccoons do their number twos every other night. "There's no food, no berries, nothing for them to eat here," says Lentz, who waited for her porch to thaw Thursday before scrubbing the previous night's deposits. "But, for some reason, they chose this as a place to go." Lentz is just one of the latest homeowners to become befuddled over raccoons, which continue their reign as the Rogue Valley's top nuisance animal. With a record 300 filed in 2007, raccoon complaints easily outstripped cougar, bear, deer and skunk complaints filed at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife office in Central Point. Raccoon complaints also topped the local list in 2006 and lost out to cougars by three complaints in 2005. And each year, east Medford leads the way in these furry quandaries. Despite an outbreak of canine distemper among raccoons and a growing cottage industry of licensed trappers, these nocturnal bandits remain regular residents of crawl spaces, storm drains and garages throughout the valley. "They're prolific breeders and, in town, they have no enemies other than vehicles and the occasional removal permit," says Rosemary Stussy, the ODFW wildlife biologist who handles damage complaints at the Central Point office. "Living under somebody's house is just as good for them as a hollow log. Probably even better," she says. "It's amazing how animals are adapting to the urban areas." Adapting is tantamount to burglary, theft and menacing to Randy Romanoff and his two cats, Spec and Junea, along Westfield Way in southwest Medford. They've been dealing with one particular raccoon that climbs through a cat door and into Romanoff's garage to feast on cat food. "I've chased the thing away and he comes back, literally, in minutes," Romanoff says. "I know he's just trying to survive. But if that raccoon and one of my cats get into it, I know who will win that one." Romanoff on Tuesday began locking the cat door at night, hoping the early closing to the cat-food buffet will send the raccoon elsewhere. "My carpets will be ruined if I have to lock the cat door 24/7," Romanoff says. Stussy traces the spike in complaints to 2005, when a distemper outbreak prompted her to ban the trapping and releasing of raccoons here. The ODFW requires a free permit to set a trap and to transport any wildlife. Before 2005, ODFW biologists would let distemper "take its course," leading to reductions in the urban raccoon population, Stussy says. She remains unwilling to lift the ban on releasing raccoons, which could spread distemper to foxes and other wildlife. "I'm not comfortable with relocating potentially sick animals," Stussy says. This conundrum has created a booming market for "critter-catchers" such as Jim King of Gold Hill, who is one of three nuisance-animal trappers to get a newly required license through the ODFW. King says raccoon problems peak in January and February as the animals look for dens for their spring litters. Licensed catchers generally charge more than $100 to get started, with a per-raccoon fee usually charged. "The nature of the call pretty much dictates how long it takes and the cost," King says. The worst problems, however, are the latrine sites. Along with the distemper that threatens house pets, raccoons are host to a string of other diseases, including the nasty raccoon roundworm, which can spread to pets and, rarely, to people. "People don't realize the diseases associated with it," King says. "It's dangerous." Meanwhile, Lentz plans to have Cyclone fencing installed in her backyard to keep the raccoons out. "I keep washing it and scrubbing it, but I won't put any chemicals down," Lentz says. "I know you're allowed to kill them, but I won't kill them." Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 776-4470, or e-mail [email protected]. By Mark Freeman MailTribune.com By Mark Freeman Posted Jan. 18, 2008 at 12:01 AM Updated Jan 18, 2008 at 12:16 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. 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